The NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID message is often annoying and frustrating. It is very valid grounds for a bad user experience, as visitors are unable to enjoy their browsing experience while still visiting your website.
However, it is comforting to know that the NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID error is a pretty common problem with a variety of potential explanations.
Naturally, you would want to try a range of solutions to get back on track, and all of these issues can be resolved relatively easily.
Today, we’ll go through what NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID is and the SSL certificate. We’ll also discuss several methods for resolving the problem.
Let’s get this party started!
What is NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID?
The system error NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID is commonly known as “Your Connection Is Not Private.” People usually come across it while using Google Chrome to access specific websites, even if they are legitimate and trustworthy.
When people receive this message, it signifies that the Internet connection or the device itself is blocking Google Chrome from loading the website because it is insecure, and accessing it puts one’s privacy at risk.
SSL and NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID
Having an SSL certificate installed on your website should put you and anyone else at ease when using your website. This is because of what SSL is and how it acts
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, and it’s the industry standard for keeping an internet connection secure. Its purpose is to secure any sensitive data passed between two systems, preventing thieves from reading and altering any data provided, including potentially personal information.
These two systems can be a server and a client (a shopping website and a browser) or a server to server (for instance, a shopping website and a browser).
For example, an application with personally identifiable information or with payroll information is at risk.
SSL certificates must be installed on a company’s or organization’s website in order to safeguard online transactions and keep customer information private and secure.
The website you’re visiting is safeguarded by SSL if you see a padlock icon next to the URL in the address bar.
How does SSL work?
SSL accomplishes its objectives by ensuring that any data sent between users and sites, or between two systems, is unreadable. It scrambles data in transit using encryption methods, preventing hackers from accessing it as it travels over the network.
Credit card numbers and other financial information, as well as names and addresses, are examples of potentially sensitive information being sent, and they need to be protected.
The procedure it undertakes is as follows:
- A browser or server tries to connect to an SSL-secured website (i.e., a web server).
- The web server is asked to identify itself by the browser or server.
- In response, the web server delivers a copy of its SSL certificate to the browser or server.
- The SSL certificate is checked by the browser or server to see if it is to be trusted. If it is, the web server receives a notification.
- After that, the web server sends a digitally signed acknowledgment, which initiates an SSL-secured session.
- Then, encrypted data is transferred between the browser or server and the web server.
The term “SSL handshake” is used to describe this process. While it may appear to be a lengthy procedure, it is completed in milliseconds.
The term HTTPS (which stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) appears in the URL when a website is secured by an SSL certificate. Only the letters HTTP – i.e., without the S for Secure – will appear if you don’t have an SSL certificate.
Thus, with this form of sophisticated and air-tight security, it is surprising that one can have SSL cert installed, and still experience NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID error message.
In the vast majority of circumstances, the error will not prohibit you from viewing the site. You can choose to ignore it and proceed to go to the page you’re looking for, but we don’t encourage it.
Because while the NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID issue is common and easy to rectify, it does occasionally signify a genuine hazard.
Variations of the NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID Message
While the NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID error message is most commonly seen in Chrome, other browsers have their own version of the error. The particular message you see is also influenced by your operating system.
On Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari, the messages differ from one another, as well as the solutions.
On Firefox: the bright yellow outline is a dead giveaway.
On Safari: the error mostly appears as a pop-up.
How to Fix the NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID Error Message
Now that we’ve taken a look at why this error could occur, how it appears differently on various browsers, and SSL certificates, let us now talk about how to fix it.
The steps below will teach you how to fix the NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID system problem and get rid of the notification “Your connection is not private”.
You should attempt all of the approaches listed as there is no assurance that just one will fix it right away.
1. Reload the Site
Let’s start with the most basic solution, simply reloading the page. You could alternatively close and relaunch your browser before returning.
Things don’t always operate the way they should, and it’s preferable to try a quick repair than waste time troubleshooting. Unusual as it may sound, it’s possible that you just caught the website owner in the middle of renewing their SSL certificate.
2. Check Your Internet Connection
This is the next logical step to take if the error persists after you’ve reloaded the page. If you’re using public Wi-Fi, there’s a good chance that your connection isn’t secure.
To be safe, you might wish to stop browsing and disconnect from the public Wi-Fi. Attempt to re-access the internet using a mobile hotspot.
If you don’t encounter the same error message, then you know that the issue was from the public connection. If you do get the same error, try using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
On the other hand, if you were already using a VPN when you first noticed the problem, you should try disabling it, since that could be the source of the problem.
3. Restart Your Computer
After doing the above with no resolution, restart your computer. Many times, restarting your computer solves a lot of issues.
4. Check Date and Time Settings
Incorrect date and time parameters error can occur if your time is wrongly set. Your browser checks that a site’s SSL certificate hasn’t expired using the clock on your machine.
Even if your computer is set to automatically sync, it can still be thrown out of sync. If you’ve recently traveled between time zones, for example, your laptop may not yet be up to date.
So, double-check that your device’s date and time are correct. Then try navigating again after reopening the browser.
5. Determine if Your SSL Certificate Has Expired or is Faulty
If you notice this mistake on your own website, it may be time to have your SSL certificate reissued. SSL certificates do expire. You may check this immediately on Chrome.
How to Check Your SSL Certificate
Begin by clicking the three dots in the browser window’s top-right corner. Then go to More Tools > Developer Tools.
Go to the Security page and check to see if the certificate is still valid. To access further information, including the certificate’s expiration date, click the View Certificate button.
You can also check the validity of your certificate with a tool like Website Planet SSL Checker, Qualys’ SSL Server Test, SSL certificate expiration alerts, certificate expiry monitor, SSL certificate expiration checker, TrackSSL, and more
For example, using Qualys’ SSL Server Test looks like this:
Simply enter your domain name in the space provided and press the Submit button.
The test may take several minutes to complete. A detailed analysis of your SSL configuration, as well as a letter grade for each item, will be included in your results. Ensure that you pay special attention to the SSL certificate’s expiration date.
These methods can also be used for the verification of the authenticity of an SSL certificate on someone else’s website. You won’t be able to do much more than try to contact the website’s owner and inform them that their accreditation has expired.
If your own certificate has expired, you can resolve the NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID problem by renewing it. Your host may be able to help you with this, or you may be able to do it yourself using your control panel.
Whichever method you use, ensure that you sort out your SSL certificate’s renewal before it becomes a huge problem for you.
6. Reinstall Chrome or Other Browsers
Sometimes, settings or functions of browsers can become corrupt for a number of reasons. In some cases, it’s better to start over from scratch.
Since browsers don’t take long to reinstall, it’s an easy method to see if it fixes the problem.
7. Update Your Operating System
Because earlier versions of operating systems may no longer be supported once, they become obsolete. You should always have the most recent version installed.
Furthermore, elements of SSL certificates are no longer compatible with earlier operating systems.
If your operating system is out of date, you’ll start seeing errors like NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID more frequently as time goes on.
The same can be said about out-of-date browsers. If you haven’t updated your browser in a while, now is a good time to do so. Even if the browser is current, uninstalling and reinstalling it might occasionally help.
8. Disable Doubtful Third-Party Browser Extensions
Third-party extensions are known to cause issues from time to time, and this can be dependent on the number of third-party extensions you have installed.
The solution to this requires you to test each extension individually. You do this by uninstalling the extension, then testing the browser and checking if the error persists.
9. Disable Windows Firewall Temporarily
It’s possible that your antivirus software has a setting that causes the NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID issue. To see if this is the case, turn off your antivirus software and try to access the website. When you do this, make sure to force a refresh.
If you find that your antivirus program is the source of the problem, you should first attempt updating to the most recent version. If the problem persists after updating, you can contact the software’s support team.
To disable the Windows Firewall:
- Click on the Windows key and type Windows Firewall.
- Click on the first option and open Turn Windows Firewall off or on section.
- Select Turn off Windows Firewall and check if the issue still occurs.
10. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
There are a couple of ways to figure out if deleting your cache will assist. First, use incognito mode to access the website. If it doesn’t work, try accessing the site using a different browser.
If nothing of these options work, deleting your browser cache is a good bet for resolving the issue.
The procedure varies depending on which browser you’re using.
You can try reopening your browser and reloading the website after clearing your cache and cookies.
Clearing browser cache on chrome:
- Open Chrome and click on the Menu icon.
- Navigate to History and select Clear browsing data.
- Ensure that the Browsing history and cache are cleaned.
- Wait for the cleanup to finish before reopening the browser.
11. Clear Your SSL Cache
If clearing the cache in your browser didn’t work, try emptying the SSL cache. To save time when you reconnect later, the SSL cache keeps credentials for websites you’ve visited.
In the meanwhile, if an SSL certificate is changed, your browser’s SSL cache may prevent it from recognizing the change.
Navigate to the Control Panel and select Network and Internet to clear the SSL status in Chrome on Windows. The button to Clear SSL status can be found under the Content tab.
Reopen your browser and go to the webpage once more. If the NET::ERR CERT DATE INVALID problem persists, there are more solutions for you to try.
12. Replace Current DNS Servers with Google DNS Servers
Depending on your present arrangement, you might want to consider switching your Domain Name System (DNS) server to or from Google’s Public DNS. Before making any changes to your DNS settings, make a note of what the numbers are now in case you need to go back and alter them.
Start by going to the Control Panel in Windows and changing your DNS server there. Then, select Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
The adapter settings need to be changed. Select Properties from the context menu when you right-click on your connection.
After that, select and then press the button. Select The following DNS server addresses should be used:
Enter 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 in the boxes to use Google’s Public DNS. Cloudflare’s DNS addresses are 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1, respectively.
Close the window by clicking OK. For the changes to take effect, you’ll need to restart your browser.
The procedure is identical for Mac users, with a few exceptions.
Having discussed these very many likely fixes, it is important to state a disclaimer. While some fixes such as reloading the site and reinstalling the browser are not risky, others such as lowering your firewall protection level or changing your network settings should be done with care.
If you’re confident in the website and its owner, however, please go ahead. But be sure you’re not jeopardizing your safety.
NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID and WordPress
“Your connection is not private; attackers might be trying to steal information…”
This error basically occurs when an SSL certificate is not installed on your website. In this section, we’ll discuss how to fix this, and install an SSL certificate on your website
For this, you have to first go to your dashboard or your cPanel. It all depends on the hosting that you’re using. Whenever you purchase from a new hosting provider, you get an email. In that message, you have your cPanel link, username, and password.
Thus, you have to start with that email. Not to worry, as the message will have all the details about how to log into your web hosting account and access cPanel and other features.
Once in your hosting account, it’s easy to add Let’s Encrypt SSL to your website. That is as long as your web host provides such a feature.
One of the ways to fix the “not secure” warning on your WordPress website if your SSL certificate has been installed, is by installing an “SSL Content Fixer” plugin.
You do this by navigating to your dashboard in WordPress, going to Plugins, and clicking, “Add New.”
Search the plugins. Then, add and activate the SSL Content Fixer.
Navigate to the plugin and edit its settings. Select the level of fixing and start from the simple level first. It has the least effect on the site’s performance.
Most times, the capture does it. Save changes and reload the site.
Summary
The ‘NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID’ error has many potential causes. It can be very frustrating trying to figure it out, but we’ve provided an array of options, some with step-by-step guides on how you can possibly solve them.
Good luck!
